Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costume sparks controversy

Halloween is a long way off but one costume already has emerged as controversial.
Several retailers are offering Caitlyn Jenner Halloween costumes
featuring variations of the ensemble worn by the transgender trailblazer
for her iconic Vanity Fair cover.
Critics say the costume mocks the transgender community and promotes
transphobia by reducing Jenner to a stereotype. An online petition
singles out pop-up store Spirit Halloween and urges the retailer to stop
selling it.
“Do not turn Caitlyn Jenner into a costume. Your profit will only lead
to greater transphobia and marginalization of an already at-risk
community,” the petition says.
The retailer has no intention of pulling the costume from stores or its website, Spirit Halloween spokeswoman Lisa Barr said.
“At Spirit Halloween we create a wide range of costumes that are often
based on celebrities, public figures, heroes and superheroes. Caitlyn
Jenner is all of the above and our Caitlyn-inspired costume reflects
just that,” Barr said in an email.
Wholesale Halloween Costumes also offers a “Unisex Call Me Caitlyn
Costume” that comes with shorts, wig, padded top and “Call Me Caitlyn”
pageant sash.
Though it might be possible in a limited context to don the costume in a
tasteful way, that’s not likely to happen, transgender advocates say.
Here are some reasons they say it’s offensive:
Spirit Halloween and WholesaleCostumes.com are known for selling
humorous, tongue-in-cheek costumes, from pizza slice to one-night stand.
Others costumes, like sexy noble Indian sweetheart or down for the
count, might be considered controversial or tasteless.
WholesaleCostume.com’s “Unisex Call Me Caitlyn” lives in the “humorous”
section of men’s costumes, along with Sock Monkey, red beer pong cup and
other costumes meant to “surprise people with your great sense of
humor,” according to the category description.
Jenner’s inclusion in such company is a clear mockery, said Kylar W.
Broadus, director of the group’s Transgender Civil Rights Project.
“It’s really clear that the costume is meant to make fun of Caitlyn and
transgender people by putting it under the category of humor,” Broadus
said.
And, for those in the transgender community lacking Jenner’s financial security, reality is anything but humorous.
“We’re in a moment of ongoing violence and crisis in the community,” he
said. “It’s a real affront to the community to think you can make fun of
transgender people and go to a party dressed like Caitlyn when we’re
struggling to survive on a daily basis. Hilarity101.blogspot.com has more news...